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SMOKED CLUTCH

1960 Views 14 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  hal2814
My wife just smoked my clutch tonight. The garage smells like burnt rubber. How long do I have until I have to replace my clutch? Who knows, but I do need to know what would be a good replacement clutch just in case I need it soon.

Also, if the car is still under warranty, would burning your clutch still make you eligible for warranty work?

Thanks in advance for any input. Happy holidays! :drive:
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Worn clutch isn't grounds for warranty repair (unless you're an extreme case).

Anyway, what kind of driveway do you have? Is it a fairly steep hill and your wife either rode the clutch up the driveway, or revved it to 4k and dumped the clutch? If this is the case, your clutch is probably fine, and just make sure you stop at the bottom of the driveway, open the garage door and have the clutch fully engage before you make it onto the driveway.
how many miles are on the car?
Worn clutch isn't grounds for warranty repair (unless you're an extreme case).

Anyway, what kind of driveway do you have? Is it a fairly steep hill and your wife either rode the clutch up the driveway, or revved it to 4k and dumped the clutch? If this is the case, your clutch is probably fine, and just make sure you stop at the bottom of the driveway, open the garage door and have the clutch fully engage before you make it onto the driveway.
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Basically my wife was at stop sign on an uphill and when wanted to accelerate after she stopped and she rode on the clutch.

how many miles are on the car?
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I got 34K on it now.
Yea, let the car cool off, everything should be fine.

I hear the v6 clutch is worse than the 4 banger, and I occasionally have difficulty with modulating the clutch/gas.

One thing she might want to try is to modulate the gas/clutch to hold the car at the stop sign. It's useful if nobody is already there, and there isn't cross traffc. You come to a complete stop, and since you are holding iit in balance, it's easier to get the car moving again. tho, be warned of clutch wear. Still better than smoking it tho.

The following are dirty tricks that shouldn't be used by anyone.
One dirty trick is to slow down, rev match and get it in 1st. Then slow down to 3mph (about 700 rpm). check for traffic and go. tho, its a rolling stop and not a stop so I can't recommend it.

Another trick could be to stop a little late, because beyond the stop sign is level, although you're going into the road so I can't recommend that either.

Lastly, high heals are supposed to make it harder to drive, esp to modulate the clutch. My grandma talks of stuff like that when she used to drive a car.
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Yea, let the car cool off, everything should be fine.

I hear the v6 clutch is worse than the 4 banger, and I occasionally have difficulty with modulating the clutch/gas.

One thing she might want to try is to modulate the gas/clutch to hold the car at the stop sign. It's useful if nobody is already there, and there isn't cross traffc. You come to a complete stop, and since you are holding iit in balance, it's easier to get the car moving again. tho, be warned of clutch wear. Still better than smoking it tho.

The following are dirty tricks that shouldn't be used by anyone.
One dirty trick is to slow down, rev match and get it in 1st. Then slow down to 3mph (about 700 rpm). check for traffic and go. tho, its a rolling stop and not a stop so I can't recommend it.

Another trick could be to stop a little late, because beyond the stop sign is level, although you're going into the road so I can't recommend that either.

Lastly, high heals are supposed to make it harder to drive, esp to modulate the clutch. My grandma talks of stuff like that when she used to drive a car.
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What I like to do when the incline is too big is to put my e-brake on and then play with the clutch and gas until it starts to pull and then release the e-brake. Smooth acceleration with no chance of sliding the car back. I dont know what it does to the clutch though.

I told me wife this just in case she gets into one of those situations where she is stuck on an uphill and someone is already behind the car.
At 6i acc and brake pedals is near. So its possible to use right leg to control both.
What I like to do when the incline is too big is to put my e-brake on and then play with the clutch and gas until it starts to pull and then release the e-brake. Smooth acceleration with no chance of sliding the car back. I dont know what it does to the clutch though.

I told me wife this just in case she gets into one of those situations where she is stuck on an uphill and someone is already behind the car.
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The method you mentioned is probably the best, I do that all the time and it puts very little stress on the clutch.
In some countries, driving tests require you use the e-brake in inclines. It's a solid method that typically puts the same or less stress on your clutch if you do it right. I don't do it because I plan on getting a truck sooner than later and I don't want to get into a habit that won't translate to both (Trucks usually have pedal-style e-brakes). My wife stalled about one time in three starting uphill without the e-brake method. Once I taught her that, she's been perfect ever since.
I don't do it because I plan on getting a truck sooner than later and I don't want to get into a habit that won't translate to both (Trucks usually have pedal-style e-brakes).
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You can still do the same trick with a pedal-style e-brake. Bring the vehicle to a stop and put it in neutral so you can engage the clutch and free up your left foot. Set the e-brake and put the vehicle back in gear. Now you can release the foot brake, leaving your right foot free to run the gas pedal. Reach down to the e-brake release and start engaging the clutch. Once you feel the clutch grab, release the e-brake, and off you go.
I know you technically can do it but it's not nearly as smooth. You can't gradually release a pedal e-brake. It's an all or nothing deal. It also puts your body in the awkward position of reaching for the brake release when you're first starting off. I'd rather take my chances on a stall or roll back.
I know you technically can do it but it's not nearly as smooth. You can't gradually release a pedal e-brake. It's an all or nothing deal. It also puts your body in the awkward position of reaching for the brake release when you're first starting off. I'd rather take my chances on a stall or roll back.
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yeah but if you roll back into someone's car you'll be in the hot seat..

I need to practice this ebrake method tonight when no one is on the road
So how did that work out? :drive:
One thing she might want to try is to modulate the gas/clutch to hold the car at the stop sign. It's useful if nobody is already there, and there isn't cross traffc. You come to a complete stop, and since you are holding iit in balance, it's easier to get the car moving again. tho, be warned of clutch wear. Still better than smoking it tho.[/b]
Riding your clutch to keep the car in place on a hill is a very bady idea, just a heads up.


What I like to do when the incline is too big is to put my e-brake on and then play with the clutch and gas until it starts to pull and then release the e-brake. Smooth acceleration with no chance of sliding the car back. I dont know what it does to the clutch though.

I told me wife this just in case she gets into one of those situations where she is stuck on an uphill and someone is already behind the car.[/b]
This is the right way and also the reccomended way if you are not fast enough to switch from brake to gas or are not used to holding both the brake and the gas with the right foot.

Anyway, even in extreme cases of hills i can usually switch between the brake and the gas fast enough where the car will not roll backwards more then an inch without a brake.
"yeah but if you roll back into someone's car you'll be in the hot seat.."

One thing that helps with that is to roll back a noticeable touch when someone is coming to a stop behind you on a hill. A lot more often than not, they'll get the message that I don't want them right on my rear (or they might just be scared I'll roll into them). And I do use the ebrake method on steep hills on occasion, just not in my old truck with the pedal e-brake.
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